Dovecote at Barholm Old Hall

Reasons for Designation

Dovecotes are specialised structures designed for the breeding and keeping of doves as a source of food and as a symbol of high social status. Most surviving examples were built in the period between the 14th and the 17th centuries, although both earlier and later examples are documented. They were generally freestanding structures, square or circular in plan and normally of brick or stone, with nesting boxes built into the internal wall. They were frequently sited at manor houses or monasteries. Whilst a relatively common monument class (1500 examples are estimated to survive out of an original population of c.25,000), most will be considered to be of national interest, although the majority will be listed rather than scheduled. They are also generally regarded as an important component of local distinctiveness and character.

The dovecote at Barholm Old Hall is a complete standing structure surviving in good condition. It is rare in that all internal and external features, including nest boxes, roof turrets and other openings, have been preserved largely intact. As an important component of a 17th century manorial complex, it preserves valuable evidence for the way in which dovecotes functioned both economically and symbolically in high-status establishments of this period.

Details

The monument includes a dovecote situated at Barholm Old Hall. The hall is a 17th century manor house incorporating remains of a medieval building but is not included in the scheduling. The dovecote, which stands on the east side of the hall, dates from the 17th century and is also Listed Grade II*.

The dovecote takes the form of a rectangular stone building aligned with the hall east-west. The walls are constructed of coursed, roughly-dressed limestone with large dressed stone quoins. On the ridge of the roof, which is tiled, there are two louvred turrets providing access for birds. In the west gable wall is a small wooden door which provided access for the keeper; the jambs and lintel of the doorway are constructed of large dressed stone blocks. In each gable there is a stone two-light mullioned window with a horizontal hoodmould, and the angles of the gables are each decorated with a small stone finial.

On the interior of the dovecote the walls are lined with the original stone nest boxes, arranged in tiers, each tier having a continuous alighting ledge. There are approximately 1500 nest boxes in all. Those in the east gable have been rebuilt at a later date in brick. At the centre of the interior is a raised stone table which would have provided a surface for food, water and salt, or was used to support a central pole (potence) against which ladders would have rested during the collection of eggs and birds.

The later stone outbuilding constructed against the east wall of the dovecote where it falls within the monument's protective margin is excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath it is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 1 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

22743

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Print the official list entry